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Spring is finally here, and most of the country would say it has come none too soon. We’ve been too cold for far too long, and even in places that still have snow cover, it is heartening to know the first crocuses will soon be cropping up.

With the change in seasons, and that first sunny day that brings with it a hint of true warmth, comes the nearly irrepressible urge to fling open the windows, air things out and banish the winter dust and gloom. Whether you actually decide to scrub behind the refrigerator or just delete some unneeded files from your hard drive, there is satisfaction to be gained from some form of spring cleaning.

And if you think you might be filing for divorce this year, I’m here to encourage you to put some of that springtime energy into getting yourself organized, financially. With taxes dues on April 15, as well, this is an excellent time to get a firm grasp of your financial situation.

Here are six tasks to put you in excellent shape for all three: spring, tax filing and the beginning the divorce process.

Get your financial documents in order.

As part of your preparation for divorce, you need to gather and secure copies of all financial documents. Use our Financial Information Checklist as a starting point, and add whatever is unique to your individual circumstances. Keep the copies with a trusted friend or family member, or use a safe deposit box that your husband can’t access.

Having important documents on hand early in the divorce process means you save yourself the time, expense and possible unpleasantness of trying to get copies of them later.

Check into your credit.

During your marriage, you may not have been paying special attention to your individual credit situation. However, as a single woman, good credit will be one of the most critical aspects of your financial well-being. Without credit, it can be near impossible to obtain loans for any purpose, or even to manage household expenses. Request a copy of your credit report now, so that you can correct any misinformation it contains. (For more tips on credit, check out my post on How To Protect Your Credit Score During Your Divorce.)

If you don’t already, you should also begin to keep a close eye on joint credit card statements. If your husband is using joint credit cards to buy his girlfriend gifts, you’ll want to be able to document that when your divorce gets underway.

Get bank and credit card accounts in your own name.

It is not too soon to discreetly establish the bank accounts and credit cards you will need as a single woman. Use a different bank than where you currently have joint accounts, and open both savings and checking accounts in your name alone.

Credit cards are especially important, and may require some time to obtain. Although changes have been made to the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act of 2009 to allow non-working spouses to apply for credit in their own name based upon shared household income, it can still be difficult to get approved if that income isn’t individually yours. Apply to several companies, and do so well before you absolutely need your own credit cards.

Know your tax situation.

As you prepare your 2013 tax return, be mindful of how a divorce will change your future tax status. You may be filing jointly for 2013, but if your divorce is finalized this year, your 2014 tax situation will be different. Divorce will likely mean significant change to your income structure. This time next year, you may be receiving alimony or other support payments, or you may have capital gains and other taxes to declare after the sale of investments and other assets.

Gone are the days when all it took was a good lawyer to get you through a divorce in good shape. Today’s financial portfolios and related regulations are much more complex, and much of the financial nuance will fall outside your attorney’s area of expertise. Many divorcing women retain multiple layers of professional help to navigate all the legal and financial details.

I recommend you start with a matrimonial/family law attorney, a divorce financial planner and a therapist/counselor. Gather and compare information, and schedule interviews with the best candidates. With your professional divorce team on standby, you won’t have any anxiety about not knowing who to call when the time comes.

Adjust your mindset: Think Financially, Not Emotionally®.

If you’re anticipating the end of your marriage, you will definitely be feeling a whole range of strong emotions, some of them conflicting . . . and many all at once! At times, it can be difficult to cope with, and I strongly suggest you include a compassionate therapist on your professional divorce team to help you through it.

But never forget that divorce is about laying the foundation for your financial well-being as a single woman. When you are making financial decisions, I urge you to set emotions aside. Negotiating a divorce settlement agreement from a standpoint of grief, anger or spite is a recipe for financial disaster.

Ticking these six items off your spring “To Do” list will get you very well-organized and well-positioned to begin the divorce process. That means you can continue your spring cleaning with a nod to Rodgers and Hammerstein, and wash that man right outta your hair!

All articles/blog posts are for informational purposes only, and do not constitute legal advice. If you require legal advice, retain a lawyer licensed in your jurisdiction. The opinions expressed are solely those of the author, who is not an attorney.